RSTA Summer Swim Program
The Reston Swim Team Association (RSTA) Summer Swim program is open to all swimmers between the ages of 5 and 18. The objective and primary purpose of the RSTA is to develop and improve capabilities in the sport of swimming. In addition to the development of competitive skills, the RSTA promotes the virtues of good conduct and sportsmanship.
RSTA brings together nearly 900 swimmers from the greater Reston area and these swimmers practice and compete on eight teams. The season runs from late May to the end of July. Youth coaches are assigned to each team. Many are current or former RSTA swimmers. Teams are managed by adult volunteers and are coached by youth swimmers (15–20 year olds).
For all the details on what our swimmers can expect, refer to our handbook.
Eligibility
The summer swim program is open to all swimmers with a league age between 5 and 18. League Age is based on the swimmer's age as of June 15th of that same year.
Swimmers new to RSTA and returning New Wave swimmers that have not graduated from New Wave are required to complete a New Swimmer Assessment before they can be placed on a summer team.
Participants are not required to be residents of Reston; however, participants that are not members of Reston Association will be charged an additional pool use fee.
Schedule
Practices
Please refer to the Schedule and Meet Results Page for the current season’s schedule.
Practices begin the Tuesday after Memorial Day and are typically held every weekday, broken into two sessions:
- Ages 10 and under swim first
- Ages 11 and up swim second
Prior to the end of the FCPS school year, these practices take place between 7pm and 8:45pm.
After the FCPS school year ends, practices are held in the mornings between 8am and 9:45am. Practice times may vary slightly across teams due to pool schedules.
Meets
Dual meets are hosted on Saturday morning from 7:30am to 12pm, with warm-ups beginning at 7am. At each dual meet, swimmers will participate in three individual events and possibly a relay.
There are also two league-wide meets: an Individual Medley Meet open to swimmers with 4 legal strokes and the All-Star meet (requires time qualification).
Registration
There are two components to the summer swim team registration fee:
- RSTA registration fee, discounted during the early registration period
- RA Pool Use Fee
Registration Fee
The registration fee for returning swimmers is $225 during the early registration period and $250 thereafter.
The registration fee for new swimmers is $25. This non-refundable fee covers the new swimmer assessment. Once placed on a team, you will be charged the team registration fee.
This is a per-swimmer fee for up to three eligible swimmers in the family. There is no swimmer fee for the 4th (or additional) swimmer in the family.
Registration fee is waived for swimmers hired as a RSTA coach (does not apply to Coaches-in-Training).
Pool Use Fees
Reston Association (RA) grants Reston Swim Team Association (RSTA) use of their aquatic facilities without an hourly rental charge. To comply with the pool use agreement, every swimmer must have a pool pass or pay a user fee, regardless of whether the swimmer uses the pools outside of RSTA practices and meets. RA Members are required to purchase (or renew) a pass for each swimmer by June 1. Non-members have the option to purchase (or renew) a pass OR pay a fee as shown below.
- First swimmer: $80 fee applied during league registration
- Second (or more) swimmers: $160 fee applied during league registration
RA Membership is defined as the owning or renting of a property for which an annual assessment is paid to RA. There are many communities in our area that bear a ‘Reston’ address while not belonging to Reston Association. Some of these are Stratton Woods, Deepwood, Reston Town Center, Sugarland Run, and areas near Great Falls, VA. Non-members who purchase a Pool & Tennis pass for the swimmer (or family) are not subject to the pool use fee. The revenue generated by the pass purchase or fee charged offsets the facility use by RSTA, which is given in partnership with RA and does not incur an hourly charge similar to other rental groups utilizing the Association’s pools.
RSTA conducts an audit of these fees and will apply an additional 20% charge for pool use fees not paid during registration.
Refund Policy
RSTA's refund policy is structured to reflect the league's limited space combined with its popularity within the community.
Refund guidelines are as follows:
- Refund requests should be submitted to [email protected]
- All refunds are subject to a $25 administrative fee
- A full refund will only be issued in the event of a major medical emergency or the relocation of a swimmer's residence to more than 50 miles away.
- If any swimmer withdraws prior to the first practice, a 50% refund will be granted.
- If any swimmer withdraws after the first practice, NO REFUND will be granted. Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for medical refunds and significant moves/transfers.
Financial Aid
RSTA provides financial aid to eligible families. Those that participate in the programs below are eligible. Please submit your financial aid request to [email protected]
- Fairfax County School Free/Reduced-Price Meals (FRPL)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Team Assignment Priority
Teams will be assigned in the following priority order, based on when your registration is received.
New swimmers must complete a new swimmer assessment before they will be placed on a team. If a team is at capacity, the registrar will work with you to place you on a team with available space.
- Returning Swimmers
- Returning Family, New Swimmers
- Returning Swimmer, Team Change Request
- Winter Swim Swimmer
- Winter Swim Family, New Swimmer
- New Families
